September 14, 2018

The National Science Foundation is encouraging researchers, the public, and other interested stakeholders to contribute to NSF’s mission to support basic research and enable new discoveries that drive the U.S. economy, enhance national security, and advance knowledge to sustain U.S. global leadership in science and engineering.

The NSF 2026 Idea Machine is a competition to help set the U.S. agenda for fundamental research in science and engineering. Participants can earn prizes and receive public recognition by suggesting the pressing research questions that need to be answered in the coming decade, the next set of “Big Ideas” for future investment by NSF. Submit entries by October 26, 2018.

NIH will delay enforcing that investigators register and report their studies in clinicaltrials.gov. Note: Basic research studies involving human participants are still expected to register and report their studies through portals other than clinicaltrials.gov.

NIH has instituted a period of leniency for applications submitted to the incorrect funding opportunity announcement (FOA) based on study-type designation (e.g., clinical trials required, clinical trials optional, clinical trials not allowed). NIH will not administratively reject any applications submitted to an incorrect study-type FOA, and applications will be reviewed based on the review criteria of the FOA to which they are submitted.

NIH will expect clinical trials that do not meet the definition of a prospective basic science study involving human participants to continue to comply fully with the clinical trials policies.

NIH also will assess its approach to registration and reporting for these studies and seek feedback from the research community on its registration and reporting requirements. NIH will continue to expect all personnel involved in the conduct, oversight, or management of prospective basic research studies involving human participants to obtain Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.

NIH also plans to issue FOAs specifically for prospective basic science studies involving human participants. These FOAs are anticipated to be published in November 2018 with due dates beginning January 25, 2019. Therefore, those submitting on or after the February 2019 due dates will have FOAs specifically designed for these prospective basic science studies with humans.